Botswana is a part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Economic Partnership Agreement (a free trade protocol) and the Southern African Customs Union, along with South Africa and other countries in the south of the continent. Following its accession to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in 1987, Botswana became a member of the World Trade Organization in 1995.

Botswana, as a part of SADC is also a part of the SADC-European Union Economic Partnership Agreement. As a part of SACU, Botswana is included in the European Free Trade Agreement and also contributes to ongoing negotiations with China and India from a trade perspective. Together with Mozambique, SACU members states have a economic partnership agreement with the United Kingdom. Other trade agreements and bilateral agreements that Botswana is included in are the African Continental Free Trade Agreement and the United States of America’s African Growth and Opportunity Act.

Other trade agreements SACU is invested in include Mercosur (a preferential trade agreement with the South Afmerican Customs Union), and from an agricultural perspective with Iceland; Norway; and Switzerland.

Cosmetics:
Cosmetics are regulated by BoMRA under the Medicines and Related Substances Regulations 2019 which were promulgated under the MRS Act 2013. They have since been exempted from registration per section 23 (3a) of the Act. . Therefore, cosmetics do not require authorization or pre-approval before their importation and sale in the Botswana market. However, there are other requirements that stakeholders must comply with as per this guideline.

Definition of cosmetics: “means (a) any substance or mixture of substances manufactured, sold or represented for use by rubbing, pouring, spraying, or applying by any other means to the human body, for the purpose of cleansing, beautifying or altering the appearance; or (b) any article intended for use as a component of a cosmetic;”

Cosmetics are defined on two aspects, the mode of application and the purpose. The mode of application implies and limits them to topical applications and the oral cavity. Therefore, cosmetics are not ingested, injected, fed intravenously or inhaled. … They are also defined as substances, mixtures or components of cosmetic products. This clearly separates cosmetics as products, and makes a distinction between cosmetics based procedures and cosmetics. For example, an injectable can be used for cosmetic procedures, however the injectable itself will not be a cosmetic.